Which of the following is an example of a performance assessment?

A performance assessment is designed to evaluate students' abilities to apply knowledge and skills in a practical context, often through the completion of a task or project. In this case, the choice that embodies this concept is the science project that requires students to demonstrate their understanding of scientific concepts.

Through this project, students engage in hands-on activities, research, experimentation, and presentation, enabling instructors to observe their application of learned material in a real-world setting. This type of assessment not only measures knowledge retention but also evaluates critical thinking, creativity, and the ability to communicate complex ideas effectively.

The other options, while they may serve important roles in evaluating student understanding, do not exemplify performance assessments in the same way. A multiple-choice quiz and a standardized test typically assess rote knowledge and recognition rather than the application of skills. A class discussion may encourage engagement and verbal expression but does not require the same demonstrative depth of understanding as a performance task. Thus, the science project stands out as the best example of a performance assessment.